India puts fourth navigation satellite into orbit

Success brings India closer to select group of nations with their own satellite navigation system

Sriharikota: India successfully put its fourth navigation satellite into orbit in copy book style on Saturday, bringing the country a step closer to having its own satellite navigation system. The rocket — the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C27) — tore into the clear blue evening sky with fierce orange flames at its tail. The expendable rocket had a single but important luggage, the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1D.

The PSLV-C27. Pic/PTI

The rocket blasted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. With this success, India moved closer towards joining a select group of nations possessing their own satellite navigation system.

Named the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), the system consists of a constellation of seven satellites of which four — IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C and IRNSS-1D — have been put into orbit till now.